Relic Entertainment celebrates its 15th anniversary

THQ has announced today that their award-winning development studio, Relic Entertainment, is celebrating their 15th anniversary in the PC gaming market. Founded in 1997, they released their first game, the strategy game Homeworld, two years later to an average Metacritic score of 93 (which is pretty damn good for their first game). Over the next several years they would release Homeworld 2 as well as two Warhammer 40K games, the first of which received a Metacritic score of 86. They also released Company of Heroes in 2006 to an average Metacritic score of 93 and recently announced Company of Heroes 2 for release in early 2013. I'm not big on strategy games, but Relic Entertainment has had some really good achievements in the past 15 years, and here's hoping the trend continues.

RELIC ENTERTAINMENT® CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY

History of Success Including the Highest Rated Strategy Game of All Time

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., June 1, 2012 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that its award-winning development studio, Relic Entertainment®, is celebrating 15 years of innovation in the PC gaming market.

Founded in 1997 on a personal credit card and based out of a 1,600 sq. ft. office above a night club, Relic Entertainment began work on its first title. From these humble beginnings this strategy game went on to become the critically-acclaimed Homeworld®, which released two years later with an average Metacritic.com Metascore of 93 and winning PC Gamers' Game of the Year award that year.

In 2004, following the release of Homeworld 2, Relic Entertainment was acquired by THQ. Later that year the studio released Warhammer® 40,000®: Dawn of War®, the first of a series of strategy games based on Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 IP. This game secured critical acclaim with an average Metascore score of 86 and spawned three expansion packs. In 2009 a sequel, Warhammer® 40,000®: Dawn of War® II was released along with two expansion packs at later dates.

Relic secured its place as genre leader of PC strategy gaming in 2006 with the release of the revolutionary Company of Heroes®, a title that still holds the rank of highest rated strategy title on Gamerankings.com (with more than five reviews) with an average of 93.82% based on 56 reviews. The game features similar acclaim on Metacritic.com with an average Metascore of 93 based on 55 reviews.

Last month Relic Entertainment's latest project, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Company of Heroes was announced and received with extensive fan fair. Company of Heroes® 2 will take players to the Eastern Front as they command the iconic Red Army in a struggle to repel the Nazi invaders from the gates of Moscow, and is scheduled for release in early 2013. Relic will be continuing to provide innovative, high-quality digital experiences for years to come with a robust online service plan to support the active Company of Heroes 2 community.

Alex Peters, General Manager at Relic Entertainment commented, "We are delighted to be celebrating 15 years of success in delivering high quality games and look forward to many more years of innovation and gameplay excellence."

About Relic Entertainment

Founded in 1997, Vancouver based Relic Entertainment is a leading developer of video game entertainment and a subsidiary of THQ publishing. During its 15 years of operation, Relic has released 15 titles, secured numerous ‘Developer of the Year' titles from top gaming outlets like IGN.com and has an average Metascore of over 80% based on the whole portfolio.

About Company of Heroes 2

It is 1941 and the beginning of what will become the most brutal conflict of World War II, as Germany launches a full-scale invasion of the frozen tundra of the Soviet Union which would result in over 14 million military casualties. Take command of the iconic Soviet Red Army in brutal frontline warfare to free Mother Russia from the invading Nazis. Your strategic skills and tactical expertise hold the power to tip the very balance of this conflict in the sequel to the critically acclaimed and multi award-winning Company of Heroes. Engage in visceral tactical combat that will define you as a military leader and challenge you to wield the might of the Soviet Empire as you smash your way to Berlin.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ, Company of Heroes, Homeworld, Impossible Creatures, The Outfit, Relic, Relic Entertainment and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.